There are always a few surprises when NFL clubs put together their 53-man rosters, and the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't disappoint.
The Jags just announced their initial 53-man roster, and one thing that was noticeable right off the bat was that they moved on from several players that former general manager Trent Baalke brought in.
Now, it's not particularly shocking for a new administration to acquire players that fit their vision. That said, the turnaround Jacksonville experienced the past few months is noteworthy. For that reason, nobody batted an eye when the new regime cut ties with a pair of Baalke blunders to make room for a pair of undrafted rookies.
The Jaguars no longer had room for Tyler Lacy and Mason Cole
Around the same time the Jaguars revealed their 53-man roster, they also announced all the players who didn't make the cut. Among them were Tyler Lacy and Myles Cole, Day 3 draft picks in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Both Lacy and Cole had made strides, but both of them had their work cut out to get the nod. In the end, though, neither did enough to earn a spot, while undrafted free agents Danny Striggow and BJ Green II made a strong impression and found a way to stick around.
With Lacy and Cole gone, there aren't many traces left from the Trent Baalke era. As John Shipley of Sports Illustrated noted, there was a strong chance that just four of his five picks from 2024 made this year's 53-man roster. Similarly, Jacksonville already cut ties with 2022 third-round picks Chad Muma and Luke Fornter.
Related: The Jags tipped their plans for Travis Etienne with the Ja'Quinden Jackson release
The Jaguars found a pair of undrafted gems in Danny Striggow and BJ Green
Undrafted free agents always have an uphill battle to make the roster. For starters, they didn't get their name called on draft day — unlike fellow rookies who went in Rounds 1 through 7 — so they start at a disadvantage. But despite their long odds, Danny Striggow or BJ Green were unfazed. They put their head down and show up for work, knowing it wasn't going to be easy.
Ultimately, Striggow and Green took advantage of every single chance they got to stand out. The preseason came, and both made a loud statement. The former logged six total pressures and two sacks, while the latter posted eight pressures and one sack. Simply put, they delivered when called upon.
Now both Danny Striggow and BJ Green are on the Jaguars' initial 53-man roster. Keep in mind that the team's brass will keep making tweaks, but even if either one gets released in the upcoming days or through the season, they've already beaten the odds by getting where they are.